This project aims to conduct research and design tools and programs to reduce gender-based violence and promote equitable masculinities in sports environments.
DESCRIPTION
Working with Physical Education (PE) teachers, PE students and sports coaches working with children and young people in three European countries (Portugal, Spain and Croatia), EQUI-Champions sets up an early intervention that aims to contribute to challenging and changing rigid and harmful gender norms and attitudes in the early stages of life in sports, where more inflexible conceptions of masculinity can be expected and which can contribute to unsafe environments, as well as viewing sport as a form of inclusion and spreading resilience and healthy coping skills.
The project also aims to raise awareness of gender-based violence, while promoting gender equality, understood as essential to preventing gender-based violence in addition to other forms of violence. It does so by adopting a gender-synchronized approach, involving PE teachers, students, and sports coaches who work with girls and boys and addressing various topics related to gender-based violence and inequality, including gender identities and norms.
Results
- Carry out 3 comprehensive national studies (Croatia, Spain and Portugal) on the attitudes, behaviors and understandings of PE teachers and sports coaches about masculinities, gender relations and the use of violence, and how these relate to sports environments;
- To deepen knowledge about attitudes, behaviours and understandings of young people in the EU regarding masculinities and how they relate to sports
environments; - Promote changes in the attitudes and behaviours of PE teachers and sports coaches, key figures of reference for many young people, in relation to preventing the use of violence, promoting gender equality and building
healthier relationships; - Improve the capacity of PE teachers and coaches to provide safe and supportive environments for young people in sport, in order to prevent GBV and promote gender equality.
- Advocate for a greater focus on masculinities and the involvement of boys and young men in the prevention of GBV including in sport, namely by promoting the integration of GBV prevention and gender synchronization methodologies in national training programs aimed at sports coaches and PE teachers.
Methodology:
- It combines methodologies previously tested and successfully implemented within the framework of the EQUI-X, Life Champions and Fútbol Más programs, which will enable PE students and teachers, as well as sports coaches, to make their teaching and sportstraining approaches more gender-equitable, to recognize and respond to gender prejudices and stereotypes, and to raise awareness of the importance of gender equality among the children and young people they work with.
Funding
EQUI-Champions (GA 101134522) is funded by the European Union’s Education and Culture Executive
Agency (EACEA).
